First Picture of China's New YJ-12A Anti-Ship Missile During Launch Revealed

Ahead of Airshow China 2016 due to start this week in Zuhai, the first ever picture showing a YJ-12A new generation surface launched anti-ship missile has been released. The YJ-12A is the latest supersonic anti-ship missile of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It was unveiled for the first time last year during the victory day parade.

The U.S. Navy with assistance from the First Lady Michelle Obama commissioned and brought to life the newest Virginia class submarine, USS Illinois (SSN 786), during a ceremony attended by more than 2,500 at Naval Submarine Base, New London on Oct. 29, 2016. Illinois, named in honor of the 21st state, is the 13th Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine to join the Navy's operational fleet. The first lady, who is the ships sponsor, expressed how proud she was of the crew and their families.

The Russian Navy held the keel laying ceremony for the first Project 20386 Corvette "Derzky" on 28 October 2016 at Severnaya Verf (Northern Shipyard) shipyard in Saint Petersburg. This new corvette class was designed by Almaz. According to the shipyard, Project 20386 is a multipurpose vessels designed to patrol the EEZ and conduct missions against air, surface and underwater targets, protect sea lanes and control maritime economic activity.

The U.S. Navy stood-up Unmanned Patrol Squadron VUP-19, the first ever unmanned-only squadron, on 28 October 2016 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida. By the end of next year, VUP-19 will receive its first Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton unmanned air systems (UAS). VUP-19 role will be training as well as developing new tactics, especially alongside the P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). NAS Jacksonville is the base of several Patrol Squadrons deploying the P-8A and the older P-3 Orion MPAs.

The fifth Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarine Veliky Novgorod has joined Russia’s Navy, a TASS correspondent reports from the scene. The ceremony of raising the St. Andrew’s flag on the vessel was held at the Admiralty Wharves Shipyard in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia. The ceremony was attended by Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov and Shipyard CEO Alexander Buzakov.

First Project 636.3 Submarine for Russian Pacific Fleet to be Laid Down in Fall 2017

The keel of the first Project 636.3 (NATO reporting name: Improved Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarine designed for the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet will be laid by the Admiralty Wharfs Shipyard in St. Petersburg next fall, Director General Alexander Buzakov has told journalists.

The large landing ship Ivan Gren of project 11711 built by Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad has to suspend factory tests, the Vpered newspaper of the enterprise reported. "The Ivan Gren returned to the shipyard as it had to suspend factory tests. By the end of the month (of October) a tracer commission has to upgrade the degaussing system of the warship," it said.

BAE Systems has received a contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat to begin work associated with the production of Virginia Payload Module (VPM) tubes for Block V Virginia-class (SSN 774) submarines. This initial award will fund work surrounding certification, special tooling, and other items related to production readiness.

Helibras presented the first H225M fitted with MBDA Exocet Anti-Ship Missiles to the Brazilian Navy

Helibras opened the doors of its plant on Tuesday, 25, 2016 and performed a flight demonstration of the first armed H225M of the Brazilian Navy. It is the most complex helicopter being produced and developed by the company's Engineering Center within the H-XBR program.

Defence and security company Saab announces another successful customer live firing of the RBS15 surface-to-surface missile system. On 19 October the Croatian Navy fired an RBS15 missile from the RTOP-42 Dubrovnik fast attack craft during the military exercise HARPUN 16.

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) announced on October 24 that the second of three DSME1400 class submarines it is building for the Indonesian Navy has been launched at its Okpo Shipyard. This marks an important milestone in the ongoing submarine program for the Indonesian Navy, setting the stage for its sea trials, and eventual delivery on schedule in by October 2017. Work on successive boat is also underway. All three are expected to be delivered by the end of 2018.

Defence and security company Saab announces it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), the biggest defence company in Poland. The document foresees the development of close cooperation between Saab and PGZ in the planning and delivery of Polish naval programs, including surface ship and submarine construction for the Polish Navy and export customers.

French Navy Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group Mission Extended Until Mid-December

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The office of the French President issued a statement to announce that the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (CSG) mission has been extended until "mid-december". The French CSG left Toulon naval base (Southern France) on September 30th. Its airwing is currently supporting combat operations against Daesh in Mosul as part of the "Chammal" operation.

According to our source in China, the steel cutting of the first Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) is expected to take place by the first quarter of 2017.

Juliet Marine Systems, Inc. (JMS) unveiled plans to construct Guardian, a submersible unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that is a variation of JMS’ existing GHOST vessel and that offers a unique suite of capabilities in a single platform.

Boeing has installed a new P-8A Poseidon training center at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., as the base begins preparations for the arrival of P-8 aircraft beginning in 2017. “About 70 percent of the training we do for our P-8 crews happens in this building,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad. “That is going to make that wonderful aircraft last longer and longer. As much as 45 years.”

The Russian Navy has accepted over 100 Kalibr (NATO reporting name: SS-N-27 Sizzler) and Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile) guided missiles, vessels and land-based missile systems in the third quarter of this year, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said during the single materiel acceptance day.

Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) Recovers F/A-18E Super Hornet for the First Time

Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) completes a first-of-its-kind recovery of an F/A-18E Super Hornet at the Runway Arrested Landing Site in Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 13. This event, conducted as part of AAG performance testing with the Super Hornet, follows more than 200 roll-in arrestments completed at the site since late March. The AAG test team conducted more than 1,300 dead-load arrestments on the Navy’s newest aircraft recovery system before involving manned aircraft.

USS Detroit LCS 7 entered active service after ceremony on Detroit River

The U.S. Navy commissioned the nation's seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) - USS Detroit (LCS 7) - on the Detroit River, officially placing the ship designed and constructed by a Lockheed Martin-led industry team into active service.

DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program has developed and built a technology demonstration vessel that is currently undergoing open-water testing off the coast of California and recently set sail with its first payload: a prototype of a low-cost, elevated sensor mast developed through the Agency’s Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems (TALONS) research effort.

The U.S. Navy released a series of pictures showing several aircraft types flying close to the destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). This aerial photo exercise comes just a few days after the commissioning of the U.S. Navy's newest and most technologically advanced warship.

The future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) successfully completed alpha trials Oct. 18 after spending two days underway off the coast of Maine. The trials were conducted by the shipbuilder, General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (BIW).